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spels。 Nearly fifty editions of the Bible； in whole or in part； appeared in those six years。
And that was fortunate； for then came Mary and the deluge。 Of course； she again gave in the nominal allegiance of England to the Roman control。 But she utterly missed the spirit of the people。 They were weary with the excesses of rabid Protestantism； but they were by no means ready to admit the principle of foreign control in religious matters。 They might have been willing； many of them； that the use of the Bible should be restricted； if it were done by their own sovereign。 They were not willing that another sovereign should restrict them。 So the secret use of the Bible increased。 Martyr fires were kindled； but by the light of them the people read their Bibles more eagerly。 And this very persecution led to one of the best of the early versions of the Bible； indirectly even to the King James version。
The flower of English Protestant scholarship was driven into exile； and found its way to Frankfort and Geneva again。 There the spirit of scholarship was untrammeled； there they found material for scholarly study of the Bible； and there they made and published a new version of the Bible in English； by all means the best that had been made。 In later years； under Elizabeth； it drove the Great Bible off the field by sheer power of excellence。 During her reign sixty editions of it appeared。 This was the version called the Genevan Bible。 It made several changes that are familiar to us。 For one thing； in the Genevan edition of 1560 first appeared our familiar division into verses。 The chapter division was made three centuries earlier； but the verses belong to the Genevan version； and are divided to make the Book suitable for responsive use and for readier reference。 It was taken in large part from the work of Robert Stephens； who had divided the Greek Testament into verses； ten years earlier； during a journey which he was compelled to make between Paris and Lyons。 The Genevan version also abandoned the old black letter； and used the Roman type with which we are familiar。 It had full notes on hard passages； which notes； as we shall see； helped to produce the King James version。 The work itself was completed after the accession of Elizabeth； when most of the religious leaders had returned to England from their exile under Mary。
Elizabeth herself was not an ardent Protestant； not ardent at all religiously； but an ardent Englishwoman。 She understood her people； and while she prided herself on being the 〃Guardian of the Middle Way；〃 she did not make the mistake of submitting her sovereignty to foreign supervision。 Probably Elizabeth always counted herself personally a Catholic； but not politically subject to the Roman pontiff。 She had no wish to offend other Catholic powers； but she was determined to develop a strong national spirit and to allow religious differences to exist if they would be peaceful。 The dramatic scene which was enacted at the time of her coronation procession was typical of her spirit。 As the procession passed down Cheapside； a venerable old man； representing Time； with a little child beside him representing TruthTime always old； Truth always young presented the Queen with a copy of the Scriptures； which she accepted； promising to read them diligently。
Presently it was found that two versions of the Bible were taking the field； the old Great Bible and the new Genevan Bible。 On all accounts the Genevan was the better and was driving out its rival。 Yet there could be no hope of gaining the approval of Elizabeth for the Genevan Bible。 For one thing； John Knox had been a party to its preparation； so had Calvin。 Elizabeth detested them both； especially Knox。 For another thing； its notes were not favorable to royal sovereignty； but smacked so much of popular government as to be offensive。 For another thing； though it had been made mostly by her own people； it had been made in a foreign land； and was under suspicion on that account。 The result was that Elizabeth's archbishop； Parker； set out to have an authorized version made； selected a revision committee； with instructions to follow wherever possible the Great Bible； to avoid bitter notes； and to make such a version that it might be freely； easily； and naturally read。 The result is known as the Bishops' Bible。 It was issued in Elizabeth's tenth year （1568）； but there is no record that she ever noticed it； though Parker sent her a copy from his sick…bed。 The Bishops' Bible shows the influence of the Genevan Bible in many ways； though it gives no credit for that。 It is not of equal merit； it was expensive； too cumbersome； and often unscholarly。 Only its official standing gave it life； and after forty years； in nineteen editions； it was no longer published。
Naming one other English version will complete the series of facts necessary for the consideration of the forming of the King James version。 It will be remembered that all the English versions of the Bible thus far mentioned were the work of men either already out of favor with the Roman pontiff； or speedily put out of favor on that account。 Thirty years after his death； Wiclif's bones were taken up and burned； Tindale was burned。 Coverdale's version and the Great Bible were the product of the period when Henry VIII。 was under the ban。 The Genevan Bible was the work of refugees； and the Bishops' Bible was prepared when Elizabeth had been excommunicated。 That fact seemed to many loyal Roman churchmen to put the Church in a false light。 It must be made clear that its opposition was not to the Bible； not even to popular use and possession of the Bible； but only to unauthorized； even incorrect； versions。 So there came about the Douai version； instigated by Gregory Martin； and prepared in some sense as an answer to the Genevan version and its strongly anti…papal notes。 It was the work of English scholars connected with the University of Douai。 The New Testament was issued at Rheims in 1582； and the whole Bible in 1609； just before our King James version。 It is made； not from the Hebrew and the Greek； though it refers to both； but from the Vulgate。 The result is that the Old Testament of the Douai version is a translation into English from the Latin； which in large part is a translation into Latin from the Greek Septuagint； which in turn is a translation into Greek from the Hebrew。 Yet scholars are scholars； and it shows marked influence of the Genevan version； and； indeed； of other English versions。 Its notes were strongly anti…Protestant； and in its preface it explains its existence by saying that Protestants have been guilty of 〃casting the holy to dogs and pearls to hogs。〃
The version is not in the direct line of the ascent of the familiar version； and needs no elaborate description。 Its purpose was controversial； it did not go to available sources； its English was not colloquial； but ecclesiastical。 For example； in the Lord's Prayer we read： 〃Give us this day our supersubstantial bread；〃 instead of 〃our daily bread。〃 In Hebrews xiii： 17； the version reads； 〃Obey your prelates and be subject unto them。〃 In Luke iii：3； John came 〃preaching the baptism of penance。〃 In Psalm xxiii：5； where we read； 〃My cup runneth over；〃 the Douai version reads； 〃My chalice which inebriateth me； how goodly it is。〃 There is a careful retention of ecclesiastical terms； and an explanation of the passages on which Protestants had come to differ rather sharply from their Roman brethren； as in the matter of the taking of the cup by the people； and elsewhere。
Yet it is only fair to remember that this much answer was made to the versions which were preparing the way for the greatest version of them all； and when the time came for the making of that version； and the helps were gathered together； the Douai was frankly placed among them。 It is a peculiar irony of fate that while the purpose of Gregory Martin was to check the translation of the Bible by the Protestants； the only effect of his work was to advance and improve that translation。
At last； as we shall see in our next study； the way was cleared for a free and open setting of the Bible into English。 The way had been beset with struggle； marked with blood； lighted by martyr fires。 Wiclif and Purvey； Tindale and Coverdale； the refugees at Geneva and the Bishops at London； all had trod that way。 Kings had fought them or had favored them； it was all one； they had gone on。 Loyal zest for their Book and loving zeal for the common people had held them to the path。 Now it had become a highway open to all men。 And right worthy were the feet which were soon treading it。
LECTURE II
THE MAKING OF THE KING JAMES VERSION； ITS CHARACTERISTICS
EARLY in January； 1604； men were making their way along the poor English highways； by coach and carrier； to the Hampton Court Palace of the new English king。 They were coming from the cathedral towns； from the universities； from the larger cities。 Many were Church dignitaries； many were scholars； some were Puritans； all were loyal Englishmen； and they were gathering in response to a call for a conference with the king； James I。 They were divided in sentiment； these men； and those who hoped most from the conference were doomed to complete disappointment。 Not one am